Apparatus for registering an article with a label-applying element



s. T. CARTER 2,602,561 APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING AN ARTICLE WITH A LABEL-APPLYING ELEMENT July 8, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28 1950 July 8, 1952 S. T. CARTER APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING WITH Filed June 28, 1950 2,602,561 AN ARTICLE A LABEL-APPLYING ELE MENT 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 jive/Zia)" J'z'dzz gyflwlar July 8, 1952 5 CARTER 2,602,561

APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING AN ARTICLE WITH A LABEL-APPLYING ELEMENT Filed June 28, 1950 6 SheetsSheet 5 y 1952 s. T. CARTER 2,602,561

APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING AN ARTICLE WITH A LABEL-APPLYING ELEMENT Filed June 28, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 s. T. CARTER 2,602,561 AP ATUS FOR REGISTERING AN ARTICLE TH A LABEL-APPLYING ELEMENT July 8, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 28, 1950 jiwelzz ar July 8, 1952 ER 2,602,561

S. T. CART APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING AN ARTICLE WITH A LABEL-APPLYING ELEMENT Filed June 28, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ii l7 3 mun.

i &4 Q

Patented July 8, 1952 ARATU QRLREGiSTERINGANABT C WITH A LABEL APPLYING'ELEMENT Sidney '1; Carter, Worcester, Mass, assignon by mes'ne'as'signments, to Geo. Meyer Manu vfaeturing 00., Cudahy, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin 'ABpIIicatioh Juii -ZS; 1950, Serial No. 170,761

This invention relates to labeling machines; and more especially to article-registeringmechanisrn fo'r accurately locating an article to receive a label.-

In applying labels to-cejrtaintypes of article it is required to deposit the label accurately with relation to somefeature ofthe peripheral s'urface ofTth'e article. For instance, some bottles have raised" characters or words with reference f t'o' which the label innate accurately located. For furtherekample, cans may have a longitudinal samafia'uie label'must be placed so that its doin'Eting word" orpi'ctu're" is diametrically oppois te to the seam; A V 4v fechani'sincoififiiofnly known as a spotting def vice has hietbrbie been devised for orienting the article as the latter apro'aches' the label-affixing devicewith the object of presenting the desired area'ofthe-article for the reception-6f the label. Devices ofthis general type are" seased, fen example, -in the patents to Essen, N o. 2,222,503, November 19, 1 940,- and Carter, Na 2,426,433, August-26; i947 andsuch mechanisms are' wl'iolly acceptable for theintended-purpose except under" certain special conditions. v

Some bottles, for example, main label, are provided with relatively small medallioh like labels; sometimes bearing merely a monogram or trademark; and sometimes of a diameter of the order of and it is quite customary, when such small labels are employed, to 'pi ovide th'e 'bottle with a depression in its outer surface or a raised ridge defining a space just-large'enough'to receive this small label. In order to insure the deposit of this small-label witfiinfsucli'a restfiera area, it is r'e'quisite'that this'smallarea of the bottle harem-stared with eit'reme accuracy as respects the 1abel-affiidng means','since otherwise the label will not befcen-' teied and will'overlap the edge'of the area to which it' should be affixed, thus producing an un-" sightly appearance. v v

orienting or"'sp'ottiiignieclianism of th'e 'cus tomary prior types occupy substantial space ana cannot be located within the confines of the'labelaffixing mechanism. Thus such orienting or spotting mechanism is usually located just ahead ofthe' affixing mechanism and operates to orient the article as it approaches the-afiixing mechanisrn. Howevenafter the article has-been properlyoriehted, thearticlemust move along an appreciable 'distance'before it reaches the labelafiifiingpoint; During' this further travel-it may ,m additionto the o 2 4 turn a few: degrees in 'onedirectionor anotherby reason-of unbalanced frictional-contactwiththe guide rails of; the conveyor or because of vibration or the like;' In applying-the; ordinary labelrsuch slight turning 'ofthe'yarti'cl'e is usuallyof no particular importancebut when, as" above sug geste'd, a very small labelinustbe placed within adefined correspondingly'small "area" of the peripheral' surface of th'e"'articl"," an -'err' o'r*i'ri registry rsultantfrbm otation"oftliearticl' of so little-as 5, foe exam i'egmay rsuit in fin:

accurately; to {posit on iarticl'e {and to hold it firmly in mace untilthe-labelhafs ben"app1ied.

A furtherobject is to "bibiiide f'ar'ticl means; adjunctive to usual pot operative to restofean artic i but which has-turned? remit; to its 5th i tiori'of orientation and" 'to 'h a it, so "p tidn'a' whilethe label'is' beifigfja A further'object" is to lpi ovidefarticle registering *mhaniiii," iii Cqqperatio'n with: a conveyon of the" intermittent el ape. Wbwh is were wine cemet mechanism and -in time with the latter. A further object is to provide an-articleregisteringmechanism comp-risingopposed article-engaging parts which move towardea'ch other't'oplace an element of-"the article interposed' between them at-a definite centered positions" A further object is to provide article registering m'eans smdevis'eil that it may be'loc'ate'd at thelabel affiiiing point and so that no portion'of the mec'hanism projects" above the conveyor path sufficiently to ifitl'e'rfe're with-the label-applying mechanism! Other and further objects I and advantages of the invention will be pointed out m the fol bwifig mdre detailed d'sc ripti'on'and by re'feren c etothe aeeamisafiy ing; drawings wherein. 5

H is; a fdiaer'ammatic iilan view of a can: veyor 'fde'sig'ned "to convey artic for enain'pl'e bottles'jl ofandiroin"la -apply1ng apparatus"; I 7 Fig is a sideelevation'of a {bdtuehai inga bel;

. aisai arievati iibrv h m 2 showing a spotting projection arranged diametrically to the-label-receiving area;-

Fi-g.- 4 isa fragmentary side elevation,- partly in vertical-"section;-of' theizonvyordevice-of Fig. -1,-showing the apparatusofthe present in vention; V

Fig. is a fragmentary plan view, to larger scale, of the apparatus of the present invention, the parts being in the position which they occupy as the bottle is delivered into the labeling station;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5, but to still larger scale, showing the apparatus of the present invention with the parts in the position which they occupy at the completion of the bottleregistering operation;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section, partly in elevation,

substantially on the plane of the line I--'! of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the apparatus of the present invention, the parts being shown in the position in which they appear in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of one of the registering jaw levers removed from the machine; and

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are diagrammatic plan views illustrating the operation of the registering jaws.

The present invention is illustrated by way of example as associated with a conveyor mechanism of the general type of that disclosed in the patent to Holm 2,026,172, December 31, 1935, the conveyor there shown being of the intermittent feed type in which the articles are moved forwardly step by step and dwell between successive steps. Since the specific mechanism for feeding the bottles in this manner is old and well known and illustrated and described by way of example in the patent to Holm, it i unnecessary to describe the feed mechanism in detail. It suffices to point out that the articles are advanced along substantially parallel rails I2 and I2 (Fig. 1) by a feed bar I3 intermediate the rails I2 and I2 and which has imparted to it a movement of the so-called four-motion feed type in which the bar rises to lift an article from the rails I2 and I2 then moves alon in the direction of article advance, then descends to allow the article to rest on the rails I2 and 12 and then, in its lowered position, returns to its starting point, then again rising and repeating the cycle. As illustrated in Fig. 4 the up and down motion of the feed bar I3 is oocasioned by a plurality'of reciprocating cams I4,

It is customary to provide the bottles with so called spotting projections or tear drops P (Fig. 3) to assist in registering the bottle in preparation of the application of a label and spotting mechanism for so orienting the bottl is well known. Such spotting mechanism is illustrated by way of example in the patent to Carter 2,426,433, August 26, 1947, and such a spotting mechanism is indicated at the station I5 (Fig. l) where the bottle B is shown as being oriented so that its spotting projection P shall be positioned exactly in that vertical radial plane of the bottle which is perpendicular to the conveyor path. 7 For usual labeling operations this spotting operation may be suflicient and no further registering operation may be required, but when the bottle is of the type shown in Fig. 2 where the label L must be applied very exactly to a small area, it sometimes occurs that the bottle turns Slightly after leaving the spotting station I5 before it reaches the label-applying station I6.

At the label-applying station It, to which the articles are delivered by the conveyor after leaving the station I5, there is provided applying mechanism H which may be of conventional type and which includes a label-applying element 22.

I4 etc., which are connected by a rod I4 and which are moved horizontally by motion-transmitting means actuated by a rotary cam on the shaft C which is driven in properly timed relation to the mechanism for applying labels.

Referring to Fig. 1, it is assumed that the articles are delivered so as to rest upon the rails I2 and I2 at the right-hand side Of the view and are advanced in the direction of the arrow W. The articles to be labeled, here shown as bottles 13 (Figs. 2 and 3) are of a special kind, having a definitely defined area A, for example an area bounded by a projecting annular rib within which is to be placed a label L. Since the area provided to receive the label L may be of small diameter, for example, and since the label L is intended toregister exactly with this area, it is necessary that the bottle be placed in exact registry with the label-applying element in order that the label L may be centered with respect to the area A. The bottle may have other labels such as the label L (Fig. 2) affixed to it, but the proper application of a label, such as the label L to an extended area of the peripheral surface of the bottle can be assured by the use of usual spotting mechanism, whereas the application of a label such as the label L to such a particular defined area as the area A does require very careful orientation of the bottle.

This label applying element may be a picker, transfer pad or any other usual device common in the labeling art for placing the label in contact with the article designed to receive it. Ordinarily this label-applying part 22 rocks about a horizontal axis and the center ofsymmetry of that face of the applying device to which the label adheres moves in a vertical plane accurately radial to the bottle and perpendicular to the conveyor path, the plane being herein designated as the plane G, and it is requisite in dealing with a bottle such as shown in Fig. 2 that the center of the area A to be accurately located in this radial plane. It will be understood that the label carried by the applying element (picker or transfer pad) should be so placed thereon as to be accurately centered with reference to the plane G, and for convenience in description and in the claims it is assumed that the center of the label actually coincides with the center of symmetry of the applying element.

The spotting projection P of the bottle is disposed diametrically opposite to the label-receiving area A, and in the radial plane of the center of said area, and, as here illustrated, this spotting projection is .at the opposite side of the bottle from the label-applying device 22 at the station As shown in Fig. 1, the label is first applied to the bottle at the station I6 and then the bottle is transferred by the conveyor to the next station I I where another operation may be performed, for example, a label-applying mechanism 23 having a picker or transfer pad 24 may apply another label or may merely, apply pressure to the label applied. From thestation H the bottle B is advanced to the station I8, as shown at position B3, and where it is pushed transversely off of the conveyor by a pusher I9 and onto a delivery conveyor 20.

At the station I6, in accordance with the present invention, a bracket 25 (Fig. 8) is bolted to the upper surface of the table T upon which the conveyor mechanism is mounted, this bracket 25 having bearings for two horizontal parallel shafts 28 and 27 (Fig. 7) disposed at the front and rear, respectively, of the conveyor (the rear being here referred to as that side at which the label-applying mechanism 2| is located). These shafts 26 and 2;Iaformpivotall'support's .for;,two,..carriers. 28 and129;.= respectively: taThese-carriers arelprovided with upwardly projecting pins130;.and 3I .(Figs. 5, 6-.and8) uponwhichare mounted camlfollower --rolls:32 and 33, respectively; These-camfollower -'rolls are designed to be engaged. by caml'e'dges 34 .an'd=.35 of .azcam'plate. 36 which is mounted. on a bar 31 which is fixed to the reciprocatingclcam members. IA and Ill. (Fig. 4)...so.v astdpartake of .thellongitudi-nal motion' of; said camv members. A, (coiled. tension. spring .3 8 (Figs. 5. and .6); connects a the:pins:30 and SI. and thustends to: swing =the-up- .?pBlI..'edg8SOf3 the carrier 28 and-.2fijtoward-ieach gothergthat is to; say, toward the= .conveyor path.

alt-may be .noted; by reference to Figai'l; rthat the cam-.-fo1lower =rolls 32,. and 33. .and'theicam plate .36 are .locatedflwellbelow. therails: I Zrand 12% .so ':-ithat;.they=donotcontact-an articletravelingalong heiconveyor path,

riage 29 which is adjustable in ai-pathzpa'rallel ..-1with; .theeconveyor path andwhichmayzbe fixed -inadjustedpositionby a set screw. 42%:Thecarriage-hasspaced, upstanding, verticalpins 3.9. and gllflgnarrying freely. rotatable abutment .rolls 4| -and-42.--These rolls arev spacedapart and the .Ucarriage is so adjusted that theaxes of the rolls --.arez.-atgaccurately equal; distances from the .plane 1 G;;(Eigs. 5,10, 11 andtl2), of movement of the la- :;be1applying element 22, these .rollsflland42'be-,

.; ing: designed to. engage .the peripheral .-surface of ;th'e..bott1e1Bat=the labeling station and to center its relative to. the head grips andzxsupports; it against. the ;rearwardly exertedgpressure of the -registering.jaws.

Theforwardcarrier 28 isprovidedwithan upward;extension 43 (Figs. 7 and 8) having ahorizonta1:guide, slotwhich receives a rib projecting "=;doWnwardly-from a carriage which is designed .g ad ustme t.:-10nei u i 1y t e..--,c o vey .with-referenee, o. t e part43 ,1 y m a s. of a se =se w,4 Wh n-on e j ed. the p rt is ri ,idly secured to the part 43 by setscrewfl he. part Misprovided with two upwardly dieete arm fifian 1. (Fig. 8) w ch-carry p ,ararnountedjaw levers 50 and 5I-(Figs. 5, 6 and =9 -='l,he e.l ye 0 and re ali pttha ,one s revers ed relatively to -the -other. Each of he aw e e P e 9) s-h q ided with abore t r-the reef-t n t e. o res hdin .p n 48 .1 a is p o d th ase wr h adedhe for the reception of the end of the screw-threaded qs m; 5 11 th orres o hei 5 1;t latter havinga flat-endface 54 and a tapering periph- .se e efe e Ee er i l e-p ov d with aarmfit having aihole 51 near its end, and with a Istop arm: 5:8. '7 RA: coiled tension spring 59 (Figs. 5 and-, ha ii pos te n hoek din t e ho "5 1 m the respective; levers BU-andtends to draw.

.- ;In the operation of the apparatus; andassum ing that a-bottleBi will be oriented by::.the:spotxtingmechanismattthe stationtl 5 so that itszspotmglproj ection P .will .be placed .in' a plane perpenz dicularl-to the conveyonpatnsand:that thisbottle izf-Theacarrier; 29 :(Figs. 5,; 6 and 7.).;supports a;.car-- .lal et. pw d y d r ct d ins, .8 a a w i esivane n mqvement or hera '3rwhieh g liver the bottle into thestationlfiis aocgmpanied bmuch a moveme t oit ezb r 1;v thetit ec po tio itheeer ie s "and 2 .111 17;

platev 36 w khav been-.entered;between t e-trol 2. and (Fie:--. ;so asv toisepa a be t e; em rsthe el asta i n .l e... t e bot sthusr e to. nt r-the lab in ;stat onwitheu .nente tinethero s M1 2 or thejew a d; t isa s m d thatzt .rreieeti n 1. n havezheem d sp a ed from: the posit o bottle-now comesto; rest in the. abeling-s :wasrlaced rbhe5 Qfifi g m hani m-met. th

theflist ncehetwe npne r:t ei then tzthe-iaws 3am the, pla e-Get operatio of..theab pp i eel mentfl- 1A5 s nii :F e-i the p es ed el e. e-the l itehe d iaw t ..;spr e ,;t mQ eupper per io st t .25

carriers Hand 29; toward each. other. :FIhe-cam edge is soshaped that therolls 4:1 and; suppo t d b t e re r-t m ;;;fir t .I ove,. nt-an C nta I t e 1 pe phe al urface f. t e bett ez .B, thereby centeringthe bottlew-ith-respect to t headgrip I-I (Fig. 4) andsoethat the axis l is i -t e p a e G The-c msn ew 3 7 permit the forward carrier28;to rnpve; inward- ,ly. -As it moves inwardly. the;jaw;53 first con- 1 te tt ph ry th -he ehrtq h ninne corners 53 (FiglO) It beinehfisulilfid-that the M spotting projection B is-to, one side of; the planet but within reach of; the jaws 53. the continued-inward movementof the front carrier 28 iILcause e erede s t e J ws .I'e.-pr ih mth peripheralsurface of the bottle, and due to the angle or inclination. of thestems 52,-the levers 50 and SI begin to swing and the jaws slide alonegfihe peripheral surface of the bottle :toward each other, the beginning 4 of this motion being .indi- .cated in Fig. 1l. This sliding motionof the-jaws.

. lem 2, (F g/12 Whi -the pa 'dWe11-.:..in

- this position, -,t he' element 22. applies the-labelto the ;area ;A of the bottle and-then retract and again advanced. to separate the carriers 28; and

immediately thereafter, the feed-{rail I3; rises; to advance the bottle from .the station I6 toxthe. sta- 29, thuspermitting thesbottle to.pas s.,free1y-;from the-"station :IB. During. the .retreat of. theacartriers 28 and fromthe'conveyorpath; the spring -59 restoresthelevers 56 to: the normal: position shownin Fig.5.

' The above-operation: is .:repeated, cycles-after -cycle, each. bottle-as it dwellsvat the labeling-stationtIGbeing accurately registered and held'firm- 11y in'place by...the jaws while the; label isrbeing applied. #In thattype .oflabeling machine: wherein. the :label. is adhered to: the; article atonastationxand: then-wiped .down at:a'='succeedi ng:,sta-

almu thembe advanced toward-the;stationuI-w 17119;; zs etiomisuch atregistering?apmratus ,asrithat:Dfsthe present-invention may be associated with each of said stations, if desired.

As previously noted, the present invention concerns 'a-device, adjunctive to a spotting mechanism (whichmay be of conventional type), and

is designed to correct slight changes in orientation ofthe bottle while the latter is on its way from the spotting -m'echanism' to a successive working station. Since the device'oi the present inventionisdesigned to correct small errors, only, it is important that the spotting mechanism be located as closely as possible to said successive Working station so that the amount of accidental orientation of the bottle, after leaving the spotter, may not exceed the angle included between the faces 54 of the jaws 53 when the latter are in the inoperative position shown in Fig.

While one desirable arrangement of parts has herein been illustrated and described, itis to be a label to an article, and, in combination therewith, means comprising spaced, relatively movable article-engaging parts operative to orient an article while thearticle is within the field of action of the applying device, and means for actuating said parts.-

2. A labeling machine of the kind which includes a movable label-applying device, means for -movingthe applying device to apply a label to an article, and, in combination therewith, means,

comprising spaced article-engaging jaws and 'means for moving them toward each other, on-

erative to orient an article while the article is within the field of action of the applying device and to hold the article locked against rotation While the label is being applied.

, 3. A labeling machine of the kind which includesa label-applying device which moves in a predetermined plane, means operative to deliver an article having aperipheral projection into the field of action of the label-applying device, and, in combination therewith, means, comprising a support movable toward the article and relatively movable jaws carried by the support, operative to turn the article while the latter is in the field of action of the label-applying device until its projection is accurately located in the plane of movement of said applying device.

4. A labeling machine designed to apply a label to a particular area of a bottle which has a peripheral projection diametrically opposite to said area, the machine being of the kind which includes a label-applying element movable in a radial plane of the bottle,'and, in combination,

therewith, means, comprising a support movable toward and from oneside of the bottle, an abutment engageable with the opposite side of the bottle and projection-engaging jaws carried by thesupport operative, while the bottle is within the field of action of the label-applying element, to turn the bottle until said projection is accurately located in said radial plane.

5. A labeling machine of the kind which includes means operative to deliver to a label-applying station an article which has already been approximately oriented .for the reception of a label, and, in combination therewith, means, comprisinga carrier and an abutment, means for moving the carrier andabutment toward the article from opposite sides of the iattenwhile the article dwells at said station, and article-engaging jaws mounted on the carrier, operative, .while the article dwells at said station to impart a final and accurate orientation to the article thereby to insure application of the label to that particular area of the article which is designed to receive it.

'6. A labeling machine of the kind which includes means operative to deliver to a labelapplying station, an article which has already been approximately oriented for the reception of a label,- and, in combination therewith, means, comprising. relatively movable article-engaging jaws and means for moving the jaws toward each other, while .in contact with the article dwelling at said station, and which is operative, while the article continues to dwell at said station to impart a final and accurate orientation to the article andto prevent any further rotation of the article while it dwells at said station.

7. In a labeling machine of the kind having a label-applying element which moves in a predetermined path toward and from the article to be labeled while the latter dwells at a label-applying station, means for correcting the orientation of an article having a peripheral spotting element after said article has been delivered in approximately oriented position into the field of action of the label-applying element, said correcting means comprising jaws engageable at opposite sides of :the projection, and means for moving the jaws in opposite directions toward the path of movement of the label-applying element.

8. In a labeling machine of the kind having a label-applying element which moves in a'predetermined path toward and from an article to be labeled while the latter dwells at a label-applying station, means for correcting the orientation of a bottle having a particular area for-the reception of a label and having a peripheral projection diametrically opposite to said area, after said bottle has been delivered in approximately oriented position to the label-receiving station at which the label-applying element moves in a radial 4 plane of the bottle, said correcting mechanism being operative, while the bottle is at said labelreceiving point, to turn the bottle until its projection is accurately located in said radial plane, said correcting means comprising opposed jaws arranged to receive the projection between them, and means for moving said jaws toward said radial plane.

9. Mechanism for correcting the orientation of articles each having a spotting projection and which are delivered, one by one, into a station, where it dwells temporarily, after having been spotted so'that the projection occupies a definite position of orientation, said correcting mechanism being associated with said station and being operative to restore the article to saiddefinite position of orientation if the article has turned. after being spotted and before it reaches said station, said correcting mechanism comprising a pair of spaced projection-engaging parts, means to contact said parts'with the article at opposite sides, respectively, of the projection, and means for moving said parts toward each other.

10. Mechanism for correctingthe orientation of an article which, after having been spotted to turn it until it occupies a definite position of orientation, is moved to a station where it dwells temporarily, said correcting means being located at said station and being operative to restore the particle to'said definite position of orientation it anether',-each article stopping'temporarily at each cate said projection accurately in the plane of movement of the applying element.

15. In a labeling machine of the kind having l a label-applying element which moves in a pre determined path toward and from an article to be labeledwhilethe latter dwells at a labelapplying station,- mechanism for correcting the orientation'of'articles, eachhaving a spotting projection and alabel-receiving area, while the article dwells at the label-receiving station after having been approximatelyoriented in preparation for the-application of a label to said area, said correctingmechanism comprisinga pair of jaws operative'to engage a portion of thebottle while the latter is at the-label receiving station and to "turnthe bottle until said label-receiving---- area-is a'ccuratelylocated for the "receptionpf alabel;- and means for actuating the jaws:

lfir-Mechanism fororienting =articles, -each--- having a peripheral spotting projection,- "said mechanism'comprising two jaws, means for movingthe jaws into contact with an article" to be orientedand means -to move the jaws toward each otherwith' the projection on the article b'e-' tween'them thereby to turn the article so as accurately 'to orient said projection."

17. Mechanism for correcting'the orientation of articles, 'each having a peripheral projection? as they advance along a path 'from'onej'statio'n' to another,'s topping temporarily at eachst'ation the 'article -"has-turnedafterbeing spotted and before i't reaches said station-and to holdit in said'posit'ion While it dwells' at said-station, said I corrctin'gmechanismcomprisingrelatively movable parts, means for moving them into-contact with'the' article at spaced points respectively, and" means for causing said parts to approach while in contact with the-article.

ll rMechanism' for correcting the orientation of articles each having a peripheral pro-j ectionas theyf' 'mo've" along a path from one station to station and being spotted at one station so that its projection'occupies 'a certain position of orientatioms aid correcting mechanism being-located at a 'siicce'ediiig station andbeing operative, while thea ceie remamsat said latter station;- to

rest'dre {the projection to said position of orientationj if' the article has turned in moving from thespot'tin g -station to the last-named station and to hold it in said position while the'article'continues'"to dwell at said station,said'correcting meelianism comprisingfa' carrier movable "toward and-'irointheiarticlej a pair" of spaced projection ing'elements mounted on the carrier, and *fonmoving said-elements toward each with the 'projection' interposed"between the c H l gqlnechanisrn for correctingthe orientation iclesfeach' having a periplieralprojectionas ir a v nce a n a. Path Ir m e i n to v anotheryeach article stopping temporarily at each statio an'd being spottedat one station so that its pr ection occupies adefiniteposition f in said correcting means being operative to reestablish the position of orientation after the" arti e enters a' succeeding station, and comprisingi; pair of oppositely movable elementsengageablewith' the article at opposite sides respectively of the projection', and means for moying'saidele-- men 5 c c l means for moving them "toward and fromeach other.

3.11175 labeling machine of the kind havin a labeL-applying element which movesin a pre-'' determined'path toward and from an article to beilabeled while thelatter dwells at a labelapply station, mechanism;for correcting the entate? 9 bo e ha' 'n fa .Q Y' a rc tece v ne: a; ab anqi v n at sp in PI jectio n, while "the bottle "dwells at a label-applying *station where the 'label-applying element:

moves a radial planeof the bottle, saidcorrecting mechanism comprisinga pair of jaws operative to engage' a part of the "bottle-andto ,turn' the bottle until saiddistinctive area is bodily" toward and fromthe article, and p labe-ljeapplying-element; and means for actuating 7 said jaws;

14. In a labelin'g machine'ofthekind having a Y label applying' element"which-moves in a" predejectioniwhile'the article" dwells at a label-'app1y= in'g-- station where the label=applying element movesin'a predetermined planeysaid correcting meanscompri'sing two'jaws located respectively at opposite sides of and at equal/distancesfrom" 1 theplane- 6f movement off said' label applying eleminttandmeahs to movesaid"jawsinoppo:

sitetlirectionstowardtheprojection'on theartirespectivelyorthe projection to correct the p'osi tion of orientation of the article and to hold-it in the corre'cted position while it dwells at the'i lastnamed station.

18; Mechanism 'for correcting the orientation j of articles, each having aspotting-projection, as l designed g age theperipheral surface of an article while the latter dwells at the last-named station and at opposite sides respectivelyof its spottingprojection, and means operative to cause the jaws toapprOach-and to grip the projection between themr'the jaws being so located that when the projection is firmly griDDed-bet'ween A themthe articlewill be so placed that-the spot-' tingprojection will lie ina plane perpendicular to said path.

19. Article orientingmeans for usein a1 Inachine for applyin a labelto an article-having-- a peripheral spotting projection; -saidorienting means comprising two jaws 'pivotally connectedt0 turn about p rallel acres, the jaws "='beihg -'of" equal -length and normallyconverging-toward T eachother, a carrieron whichithe'jawsare mounted andwhich-is operative to move them bodily toward an article to. be-orien'ted; means" for moving the carrier so; as to 'jpressfitlae "freer.

ends of the jaws againsttheiperipheral' sur-faceof' thearticle-at opposite sides respectivelybf -z spotting projection thereby, to cause the jaws to slide along the surface of the article as thei approach, and abutment means engageable with the peripheral surface of the article at the opposite side of the latter from that with which the jaws contact thereby to prevent bodily movement of the article by the pressure of the jaws.

20. Article orienting means for use with a conveyor arranged to advance articles, each having a peripheral spotting projection, along a path and for stopping each article temporarily at a station, said orienting means comprising a carrier arranged at each side respectively of the conveyor at said station, each carrier being arranged to swing about an axis parallel to the conveyor path, a cam moving in time with the conveyor as the latter delivers an article to said station, and which is operative to separate the carriers to allow an article to enter between them, spring means urging the carriers inwardly toward each other while the article dwells at said station, a pair of spaced abutment rolls mounted on one carrier and engageable with the periphery of the article as said latter carrier moves inwardly, a pair of jaws mounted on theother carrier, said jaws being pivoted to swing about parallel axes, a spring tending to hold the free ends 01 the jaws separated, and stop means limiting such separation of the jaws, the jaws being so arranged that, as the carrier approaches the article, the free ends of the jaws first engage the periphery of the article at opposite sides, respectively, of the projection and then slip along the peripheral surface of the article until they grip the projection between them.

21. Article orienting means for use with a conveyor designed to advance articles, each having a peripheral projection, along a path from a spotting station to another station and for stopping each article temporarily at each station, said orienting means including a pair of normally spaced but pivoted jaws located at the label-applying station, a spring tending to move said jaws apart, a carrier upon which the jaws are mounted, means for moving the carrier thereby to press the ends of the jaws against the peripheral surface of an article at the last-named station with the ends of the jaws located, respectively, at opposite sides of the projection, the jaws normally converging toward each other whereby, as the carrier approaches the article, the ends of the jaws slip along the periphery of the article and approach until they grip the projection between them, and abutment means perative to support the article in opposition. to the pressure exerted by the jaws. I

22. Mechanism for correcting the orientation of articles, each having a peripheral projection, as they are moving along a path from one station to another, stopping temporarily at each station and. being spotted at one station so that the projection on the article occupies a definite position of orientation, said correcting mechanism being located ata succeeding station and being operative, if an article on its way from the spotting station to the last-named station has accidentally turned, to correct the orientation of the article, said correcting mechanism comprising, in combination, a carrier arranged at each siderespectivelyof the conveyor at the labelapplying station, said carriers being movable toward and from the conveyor, means operativeto move the carriers outwardly as an article enters the station, and means operative to cau'se'the carriers to approach the conveyor while the arti cle dwells in the label-applying station, abutment means mounted on one carrier and which en-1 gages the article as said carrier moves inwardly toward the conveyor, a pair of relatively movable: pivoted jaws mounted on the other carrier, springmeans tending to separate the free ends of the: jaws, said free ends of the jaws being arranged to engage the peripheral surface of the article as the jaw-supporting carrier moves inwardly, the engagement of the ends of the jaws with the: peripheral surface of the article causing the jaws to close and grip the projection between. them as the carrier completes its movement.

23. Mechanismfor correcting the orientationof articles, each provided with a peripheral pro-- jection, as they are moved step by step along a predetermined path from one station to another,- dwelling temporarily at each station and being spotted at one station so that the projection 00- cupies a predetermined position of orientation,- said correcting mechanism comprising a carrier located at a succeeding station and which is movable toward and from the conveyor path, a pair of jaws pivotally mounted on the carrier to swing about substantially vertical axes, a spring tending to separate the jaws, the ends of th jaws being normally spaced apart and directed toward the carrier path and being engageable with the peripheral surface of an article, dwelling at the last-named station, at opposite sides, respectively of the projection, and abutment means at the opposite side of the carrier path from the jaws, the abutment means being operative to support the article in opposition to the pressure exerted on the article by the jaws, the jaws engaging said peripheral surface at such an angle, as the jawsupporting carrier moves toward the conveyor, that said ends slip along the surface of the article and grip the projection between them.

24. Mechanism for correcting the orientation of articles, each having a peripheral projection, as they move step by step along a predetermined path from one station toanother, dwelling temporarily at each station and being spotted at one station so that the projection on the article occupies a predetermined position of orientation, said correcting mechanism comprising a carrier located at a succeeding station and which is movable toward and from said path, a cam for moving the carrier away from said path to allow an article to enter the last-named station, a spring operative to move the carrier toward said path while an article dwells at the last-named station, spaced abutment rolls at one side of said path, said rolls being engageable with the article to prevent it from moving away from the carrier,

and means mounted on the carrier and operative as the carrier moves toward said path to turn the article so as to dispose its projection in'a verdwelling temporarily at each. station and being spotted at one station so that the projection on the article occupies a predetermined position of orientation, said correcting mechanism conipris= ing carriers arranged atopposite sides, respectively, of the path at a 'succeeding'statio'n; said carriers being movable toward and'from'said path, cam means operativeto move the carriers away from said path to allow an article to enter the last-named'station', spring means operative to move the carriers toward said path while an article dwells at the last-named station, articleturning elements mounted on one carrier and engageable with the peripheral surface of the article at opposite sides respectively of its projection as said carrier moves inwardly, said elements being constructed and arranged to approach the projection from opposite sides respectively and thereby to move the projection intoa plane perpendicular to said path, spaced abutment rolls 1 mounted on the other carrier, and means for adjusting said rolls relatively to their carrier so that their axes will be spaced at equal distances from I said plane. SIDNEY 'r. CARTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,159,318 Carter May 23, 1939 2,426,433 Carter Aug. 26, 1947 

